Story on peanut allergy was very much misinformed

In regard to the column printed Jan. 13, "This allergy is frankly, kinda nutty," by Joel Stein of The Los Angeles Times, I was shocked that the Advance would print, for lack of a better word, such drivel.
To imply that a peanut allergy is a result of "mass psychogenic illness" is greatly irresponsible and completely ignorant (check with the people that write in your Health Section).

As a parent of a child with a peanut allergy that could cause death, I am constantly forced to defend my daughter's need for a safe environment in school and in other areas of her life. Knowing my only choice, should my child go into distress, is to ram an epi-pen in her thigh and hope it is enough to get her to the hospital, is a fear no parent should live with.
To compare a life-threatening allergy to the cooties, shows someone lacking the intelligence to decipher fact from fiction. I am not a demographic; nor is my daughter. She deserves to have her simple needs met as much as the next person. And if that means sacrificing the almighty peanut butter sandwich, so be it